Ame and Ame Zion Churches in African American History

There are many questions that come to mind when looking at the significant roles denominationalism affects the Christian faith. We see this growing trend of doctrinal beliefs that cause for many of our African American Churches to worship separately on a weekly bases for Sunday Morning Worship Services and Mid-Week Bible Studies. Through the incorporation of doctrinal beliefs that govern our churches making for divisions within the Christian faith, we also find division and difference within that denomination also. I ask myself this question, how and why there are so many denominations founded and why are there so many sub-cultures or denominational split within them if we are the Body of Christ and one church? Through this paper I will take a look at two churches, the A.M.E. and A.M.E.Z. church to understand what makes them different while exploring the doctrinal beliefs that divide them.

The Methodist Church was formed by a few students in England at Oxford University. Known as the Oxford Methodist, they were ridiculed for their beliefs in 1729. They were dubbed “Bible Bigots,” “Bible Moths,” and the “Holy Club.” Three major names are cited as influential members of this group; John and Charles Wesley and Greg Whitefield and where were methodically religious. This group felt that it was necessary to be justified before one could be sanction and that they should give close attention to live a life of holiness. The Methodist movement made its way to the American Colonies after being it was not able to remain within the Church of England. After an evangelistic team made up of many un-churched believers from within the Church of England, under the direction of Wesley, submitted a declaration. This document was penned by John Wesley as early as 1739, outlined general rules of governance with Bible rules and conduct that is still held today by the modern Methodist Church. In 1784 a Deed of Declaration was submitted, giving its ‘legal status’ to the...